F1 team bosses throw support behind FIA and FOM over calendar uncertainty

Zak Brown, Fred Vasseur and Steve Nielsen have voiced their support for Formula 1 Management and the FIA as they navigate ongoing calendar disruption caused by the cancellation and continued uncertainty surrounding several Middle Eastern races this season.

The Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix, originally scheduled as back-to-back rounds in April, were postponed indefinitely in March due to escalating security concerns in the Gulf region following the outbreak of the Iran conflict in late February. Both events were removed from the calendar, reducing the 2026 season from 24 to 22 rounds.

Since then, FOM CEO Stefano Domenicali has indicated that Bahrain could be reinstated between the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on 26 September and the Singapore Grand Prix on 10 October, potentially forming a triple-header, though no official calendar amendment has been published.

Speaking to media including RacingNews365, Brown made clear the teams are firmly behind the governing bodies, whatever decisions are made.

"Yeah, I think ultimately Stefano [Domenicali] and the FIA are going to work through the calendar, so we'll race what they tell us we're racing and we'll be happy to do that," the McLaren Racing CEO said.

He added that the fluid situation has not created difficulties for the teams commercially, "I think we all have the same challenge as far as managing through that, and then our partners are all understanding the calendar's quite big, so it doesn't really present any commercial issues from that point of view."

A decision is expected before the summer break following the Hungarian Grand Prix later this month.

Further complicating matters, the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix, scheduled as the final two rounds in late November and early December, also remain at risk from the instability in the region, and may still require contingency plans if unable to go ahead.

Vasseur, the Ferrari team principal, echoed Brown's sentiment, saying, "Honestly, I think we are all in the same boat, between teams, FOM and FIA.

"We all want to go to races, and we all want to race again and more, but it is like it is. We have huge trust in the FIA and FOM on the calendar. They are working hard to find solutions, and I'm really convinced that they are doing the best."

Alpine managing director Nielsen voiced his agreement, concluding: "Yes, nothing to add really. I'm sure they've got a myriad of versions of the calendar, and they'll go for whichever one world events allow them to do."